Peters Celebrates One Year of Progress for Michigan Thanks to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement celebrating one year of progress thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law that he helped enact into law:

“One year later, the bipartisan infrastructure law is delivering big-time for Michigan’s economy, families and communities. This landmark legislation not only supports good-paying jobs but is making urgently needed investments across our state to repair our crumbling roads, bridges, and highways, expand access to high-speed internet, and ensure communities will have resources to build infrastructure that is more resilient and can withstand extreme weather like flooding, rising water levels, and shoreline erosion. As we continue implementing this law, I’ll work to make sure Michiganders see the results of these investments in their everyday lives.”

The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act – or bipartisan infrastructure law – is benefitting Michigan with investments to:

• UPGRADE OUR ROADS, BRIDGES & HIGHWAYS: In Michigan, roughly 1,219 bridges and over 7,300 miles of highway are in “poor condition.” On average, that translates to drivers in Michigan paying $644 annually in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, $3.2 billion has already been announced for roads, bridges, roadway safety, and major projects in Michigan. In the coming years, it’s estimated Michigan will receive a total of $7.3 billion for federal-aid highway programs and $563 million for bridge replacement and repairs.
• REDUCE THE RISK OF NATURAL DISASTERS THROUGH FUNDING OF PETERS’ STORM ACT: Peters authored into law the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act to create a new program that will be used by local communities in Michigan and across the nation to carry out mitigation projects that reduce natural disaster risk, including extreme flooding, shoreline erosion and rising water levels. Peters secured $500 million for the program to provide low-interest loans to local communities for disaster mitigation projects. Earlier this year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that states will soon be able to apply for grants to mitigate the threats that have put homes, small businesses, property, and communities in Michigan at risk, and caused millions of dollars in damages.
• EXPAND HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS: Michigan received robust funding through the law to provide high-speed internet coverage to hundreds of thousands of Michiganders who lacked access at the time of the bill’s signing. Today, an estimated 513,000 households across the state are receiving affordable internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program and families can check their eligibility and sign up at GetInternet.gov.
• DELIVER CLEAN DRINKING WATER: The law is making significant investments for clean drinking water and water infrastructure, including funding to replace lead service lines and address PFAS contamination – which continues to threaten Michigan communities, families, first responders, and the Great Lakes.
• INVEST IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS: Michigan has received nearly $40 million to build out EV charging infrastructure and is set to receive more investments in the next four years. Michigan also has the opportunity to apply for grant funding dedicated to EV charging. These resources will not only help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles but support domestic manufacturers and ensure Michigan remains at the forefront of innovation and economically competitive, while also deploying the next-generation of electric vehicles.  
• PROTECT THE GREAT LAKES: The bipartisan infrastructure law provided the largest-ever investment in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) – which will help accelerate the cleanup and restoration of nine high-priority areas in Michigan whose lakes, rivers and watersheds flow into our Great Lakes.
• SUPPORT AMERICAN WORKERS AND MANUFACTURERS: The bipartisan infrastructure law included a provision championed by Peters to strengthen Buy American requirements and ensure the federal government is spending taxpayer dollars on American-made products that support American companies and workers, and create American jobs. The legislation also requires domestically produced materials to be used for federal infrastructure projects, promotes domestic production of personal protective equipment, directs the creation of a BuyAmerican.gov website, and creates a Made in America Office in the White House. Finally, the bill strengthens the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to boost opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses to sell products to federal agencies.
• IMPROVE AIRPORT FACILITIES AND MICHIGANDERS’ FLYING EXPERIENCE: Over the past year alone, the bipartisan infrastructure law has provided more than $135 million dollars to airports across Michigan to improve infrastructure, sustainability, safety and customer experience. This law will work for years to come to build on Michigan airports’ $22 billion in annual economic output in our state.

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